FARGO — Robbery and theft charges filed in state court against the man accused of robbing a downtown bank in August have been dismissed.

The case against 66-year-old Jay Barker, of Hillsboro, was dismissed during a one-minute preliminary hearing Wednesday, Sept. 17, just after Barker's attorney said her client intended to plead guilty in the case. At that time, Assistant Cass County State's Attorney Patrick Fylling moved to dismiss the matter.

"You're moving to dismiss this case outright?" Judge Nicholas Chase asked, following the motion.

"That's correct," Fylling replied.

Following the hearing, the prosecutor assigned to the case, Assistant State's Attorney Katie Nechiporenko, told The Forum the case will likely be charged federally soon, "due to this being a bank robbery allegati

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